A lifelong New England fisherman
and seafood dealer, Rice brings diverse experience to the council.
He is a member of the Maine Lobsterman's Association and the
Maine Lobster Advisory Council and sits on the Board of Advisors
of the Lobster Institute. He has been an active participant in
fisheries management with both the Council and the Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commission, and he also served on
the Department of Maine Resources Advisory Council.

The at-large seat, due to expire
on August 10, 2003, became vacant in June when William J. Brennan
of Portland, Maine, resigned his seat to take the position of
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Affairs.
Brennan had served on the Council since August 2000. He previously
served on the Council from 1987-94 as Commissioner of Maine's
Department of Marine Resources.

The Commerce
Department's National Marine Fisheries Service is dedicated
to protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources
through scientific research, management, enforcement and the
conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species
and their habitat.